In the 1945 division of Korea, the historical Gangwon Province was divided in half, and remains so to this day.

Gangwon Province was one of the Eight Provinces of Korea during the Joseon period, formed in 1395, deriving its name from the names of the principal cities of Gangneung (강릉; 江陵) and the provincial capital Wonju (원주; 原州).

In 1945 Gangwon Province, along with the rest of Korea, was divided by the 38th parallel north in 1945, to create American and Soviet zones of occupation in the south and north respectively, leading to Wonsan joining the northern half in 1946 to serve as its administrative center.

[citation needed] Gangwon Province and its North Korean counterpart Kangwŏn are together referred to as the Gwandong region.

The province is renowned for its agricultural produce, especially potatoes and fish, including cuttlefish and pollock.

Mineral resources from the province include iron, coal, fluorite, limestone and tungsten.

[citation needed] Because of Gangwon Province's landscape, a number of old Buddhist temples have survived, like Woljeongsa and Oseam.

Established in 2002, the Chuncheon National Museum is operated by the central government for the purpose of classification and reservation.

Gangneung Danoje was listed in UNESCO's Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Gangwon Province is composed of mountains or basins, so locals mainly make food with potatoes or buckwheat.

[14] Due to the Taebaek Mountains, Gangwon Province has 4 national parks & several natural monuments.

The Hantaan River penetrates Cheorwon County's volcanic terrain, having several natural monuments.

This area was a place of a fierce battle during the Korean War and is now a common rafting route.

[21] The Civilian Control Zone is near the Military Demarcation Line, providing areas to stay for migratory birds, especially red-crowned cranes.

These beaches are covered with pine tree forests, planted to block the sea breeze.

The tourist attraction, which can only be visited on escorted security tours of the DMZ, is an abandoned train station on the northernmost end of Korail's Gyeongwon Line.

Near the station there was a small yard where rail stock was stored or shunted before leaving for Wonsan, now in North Korea, along the former Gyeongwon Line.

Kiosks here sell liquor, cash, postage stamps and other souvenirs from North Korea.

[citation needed] Gangwon Province's railways were originally built to transport mining resources to harbours.

[30][31] Gangwon Province's road length totals to 9,800 km (6,100 mi), and 75.1% is paved.

Like the railways, Gangwon Province is connected by intercity bus networks in South Korea.

For example, Mukpo Harbour functions as an exporting hub for cement & coal from the Taebaek Mountains.

], Korea Gas Corporation built the LNG Platform Center at Hosan Harbour.

Jin-seon Kim, the Governor of Gangwon Province announced it on April 28, 2008[39] and was established on December 18, 2008.

[43] The 1999 Asian Winter Games were held in Gangwon Province between January 30 and February 6.

[44] The main cities of the province are Chuncheon (the provincial capital), Gangneung, Sokcho, Wonju, and Donghae.